I Will Turn to You
The afternoon was filled with the warmth of the sun, things were getting accomplished and I found myself smiling and looking forward to the evenings Bible Study. I had just returned from a week of laughter, wonderful fellowship and new and exciting things to be shared with those here at home. As they say, life is good. Then the phone rang, seeing the name on my caller ID, I readily picked up the phone and was anxious to share the amazing week I had just experience. The conversation began with inquires and I excitedly answered them, laughs were exchanged and then with a pause and a change in the tone, I received heart breaking news from this very dear friend on the other end of the line.
The news I was listening to pierced my heart, made my stomach turn and sent my mind in a whirlwind. Cancer, how could this be. Oh my gosh, you, how, why and every other question imaginable was running through my head. As I listened to this special person share her news of her afternoon with me, I heard her fear of this unknown thing that has invaded her body. She was intentionally trying to stay strong as she conveyed her findings to me while I was falling apart. The thoughts replaying in my mind were, what do I say, how can I help, what do I do. All I wanted to do at that moment was to hold my friend tight, to wrap my arms around her and tell her all will be just fine. Will all be fine!
My friend is a believer and she knows that she serves a mighty God. In that alone, all is and will be fine. But the road ahead will hard and her faith and hope will be challenged. She will ride the roller coaster of strength and weakness, comfort and fear, certainty and doubt, knowing and not. She will laugh and cry, be angry and fearful, she will encourage and be encouraged and she will be the one we all look up to because she will do what she needs to do and will carry on through all of this. But what I know of this very special person is her love for the Lord. She will search His Word in her time of need and she will hold on to it. What lies ahead has already be planned and it has a purpose and it will be perfect.
I am not making light of this for there will be trials that will seem impossible to bear let alone get through. But what I do know, is there is a Light that will get her through this trial, He will lead her and guide her, He will carry her and comfort her, He will be with her every step of the way. As a full day has pasted since I received her news, I have searched the Lord for something comforting to say. I have looked up verses, I have prayed and I have asked God to show me just what to share. What I found was love in every verse I read and in every prayer I prayed. In trying to find something comforting for my friend, I too, found comfort to be able to walk through this with her in her time of need.
There are so many verses to hold on to, so many promises to embrace
because our Heavenly Father loves us.
Psalm 10:17
O LORD, You have heard the desire of the humble; You will strengthen their heart, You will incline Your ear
Isaiah 40:31
But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint
Ephesians 3:20-21
Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think.
Isaiah 43:2
When you go through deep waters, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown. When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up; the flames will not consume you.
Hear my cry, O God; attend to my prayer.
From the end of the earth I will cry to You,
When my heart is overwhelmed;
Lead me to the rock that is higher than I.
For You have been a shelter for me,
A strong tower from the enemy....
I will trust in the shelter of Your wings." Psalm 61:1-4
"The everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth, neither faints nor is weary.
His understanding is unsearchable. He gives power to the weak,
and to those who have no might He increases strength.
Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall,
But those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength;
They shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary,
They shall walk and not faint." Isaiah 40:28-31
Lord, You are that strength that Kathy needs, the comfort she desires and You Love her. I pray Lord that I can be the friend that will be there for her in her time of need. I pray Lord that Your will be done and that Your Glory will shine for all to see. Lord hear our prayers as we lift up our very special and dear friend to You. May our faith and trust be ever so real.
